Flathead County voters must remember to include their year of birth on their ballots as they prepare to cast their vote by Election Day.

The county is overseeing an all-mail ballot for this year’s general municipal election, and a state law that went into effect Oct. 1 requires Montana voters to include their birth year, along with their signature, on their ballots.  

The Flathead County Election Department has received 6,854 ballots as of Oct. 24, out of an estimated 68,200 active electors. Among those, 145 were rejected, although 17 have been corrected since then, according to Election Manager Paula Buff. Out of the 128 ballots that are currently rejected, 105 of them either are missing the birth year or have an incorrect date.  

Election staff have been diligent about calling people when their ballot is rejected, Buff said, and a rejection notice is sent to the voter, as statutorily required. This close to Election Day, she encouraged voters to make corrections either by visiting the office in Kalispell or emailing the missing information at [email protected].  

At this point, anyone who hasn't turned in or mailed their ballots is encouraged to drop them off at the Election Department, located at 290 B N. Main St. in Kalispell.  

“If it were me, there would be no way I would mail a ballot after [Oct. 29],” Buff told the Inter Lake.  

All ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 4 to be counted. Buff said it’s difficult to estimate the speed with which a mailed ballot could reach her office.  

Voters can visit the Election Department any time Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to drop off ballots. On Election Day, Nov. 4, office hours will be extended from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and a ballot drop box will be set up in the department’s parking lot that day.  

“We're just trying to make it a little more convenient for people, especially with parking,” Buff said.  

Key issues on the ballot this year include a $105 million bond for a new county jail and, for voters within Kalispell, electing the city's next mayor. Sitting City Councilors Ryan Hunter and Sid Daoud, and local entrepreneur Kisa Davison are all vying for the position. Voters will also elect city councilors in each of Kalispell's four wards.  

Also on the ballot is an $84.8 million bond to completely remodel a high school in Columbia Falls School District 6. Voters in Columbia Falls will also vote for three new city councilors. Four candidates appear on the ballot, but Hannah Pennington is not seeking election. Pennington was too late in withdrawing her candidacy for her name to be removed from the ballot. Mayor Don Barnhart is running unopposed for reelection. 

For Whitefish residents, four candidates on the ballot are vying for City Council. Newcomer Nathan Dugan is running against incumbents Andy Feury, Giuseppe Caltabiano and Ben Davis for one of the three open seats.  

For more information about voting in the Flathead County general municipal election, visit flatheadcounty.gov/department-directory/election or call the Election Department at 758-5535. 

Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 758-4439 or [email protected].